Abstract
The monocyte-macrophage cell line is an important marker of the host defense system especially in cell-mediated immunity. This report describes a series of assays that can be applied routinely in canine monocyte function, or phagocytosis and gives some information as to the activation of normal monocytes by sensitized lymphocytes in dogs infected with Babesia gibsoni. Babesia-immune monocytes were more effective in phagocytosis of the parasitized erythrocytes than normal monocytes. Babesia-immune monocytes incubated with Babesia-immune fresh serum showed the highest percentage of phagocytosis. When normal monocytes were incubated for 24 hours with Babesia-immune lymphokines, the percentage of phagocytic monocytes was approximately three times higher than those with normal cultured supernatant.
